Providence Louisiana Feb 23rd 1863 
Dear Wife 
   I Rec'd a letter from you last night Dated Feb 8th  
  it found me as well as usual and I was glad to hear 
that you was well and in good heart; the weather 
is Clear warm and pleasant to day But there has 
been a great deal of Rain here for the last three 
or four weeks; we are Still at Providence; another Division 
of our Soldiers landed here to day; they Just come down 
from Memphis, they, are commanded by Gen, Logan 
  I; Recd a letter from little John Graham last night he 
Said the 25th Reg,t was Still at Madison and was under 
Marching orders for Cairo; But did not know [crossed out] [illegible] when they 
would Start; I Also Rec,d a Letter from Susan Wilson 
dated Feb 15th She wrote that her folks was well they are living 
in Bloomington; But Intend going back to Marshall in  
the Spring I will Send you the letter 
There is not mutch going on here yet in a Military point 
of View but perhaps we will have Something to do before 
a great while; things Seems to be getting into Shape for some 
more hard fighting the coming Spring; I think there 
will Still be more Troops Brought into the field 
and the war be more Vigorously Prosicuted than Ever; 
At least I hope they will Drive it through as fast 
as Possible and Either whip the Rebels or get whiped  
And not have it on hand So long 
Providence Feb 25th   /,63 
Well I commenced writing this letter day before yesterday 
  But was Detailed to go out on picket and did not have 
time to mail it; this is in the afternoon it is cloudy 
and there is heavy thundering in the west and I think 
[crossed out] [there] it will Rain before night John Kingston got a letter 
last night from John Herron which Stated that John 
Downie was Dead and that Ben Greenman was not 
Expected to live long; and also that George [Esler?] 
and Jim Williams had got home; Alvin Caulkins 
Rec,d a leter from his folks Dated Feb 8th the folks were 
all well; All the Badax Boys that are left are in 
Tolerable good health ; John Graham [crossed out] [illegible] wrote that 
 
Burnett was Runing the Mill in Springville 
     But Did not Say whether his wife was there or not 
we are having Inspection to day and I have not time 
to write a great deal to day; if Silva continues to grow 
as She has commenced I am afraid I Shall not Know 
her when I get back; I would like to be there this Evening 
to See you and the little One; But I guess I will be there 
  after a while So I wait with patience till the 
time comes   Direct your letter to Cairo as before 
Yours Truly for Several days 
 
Thos .J. Davis 
 
Lucinda.M.Davis